Hardy Boys Fan Fiction at the Hardy Detective Agency Presents "In the Name of Love" by CQB

"That’s enough," Andrew Whiteside called out, having watched the scene between Laura Hardy and her son. "It’s time Joe heard what a great person his mother is. I want you to tell him how you killed my brother right here, at this very spot!"

Joe cringed at the sound of Whiteside’s voice. ‘Red’ he thought, wishing his head would stop hurting so he could think straight, ‘No, not Red. Whiteside, Andrew Whiteside.’ Joe remembered being in ‘Red’s’ basement and later, in the motel room. Where were they now? He tried to sit up more, but couldn’t get his body to cooperate.

"Andrew," Laura implored, "Can you at least get this tape off of his wrists and ankles? I mean, look at him. He’s in no shape to try anything."

Whiteside looked at Joe’s dazed eyes and weakened condition. He made Laura move away while he cut the tape from the boy’s wrists. "I’ll keep his ankles taped, just incase he tries to run."

Laura knelt back down beside her son, gently rubbing his wrists in her hands. "Andrew wants me to tell you what happened here 13 years ago," she told Joe, "It might trigger some painful memories for you, Sweetie."

"I was here before, wasn’t I, Mom?" Joe asked, his hoarse voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," she began, "It started when you were just four..."

* * *

"Sam! Con!" Police Chief Ezra Collig greeted the two young men, "Your timing couldn’t be more perfect." The chief quickly filled Sam Radley and Officer Con Riley in on the present situation.

"What do you want us to do, Chief?" Sam asked, glancing briefly down the slope where Whiteside could be seen. There was no sign of Laura or Joe.

"You and Riley need to get down there," Collig explained, "but not from here, Whiteside would see you."

"We can climb down over there beyond the curve in the road," Con suggested. "We’ll be able to stay hidden among the rocks once we’re down there."

"Alright," the chief agreed, "I’ll try to keep Whiteside’s attention so your team and the Hardy’s can get into position. Good luck, gentlemen." He gave Sam and Con a few minutes before he called down to Andrew Whiteside.

* * *

"...and Adam went over the edge with you in his arms," Laura Hardy told Joe, "If Con hadn’t caught your ankle, you would have fallen to the rocks below with Adam."

Joe had tried very hard to stay focused on what his mother was telling him. He understood most of it and looked up to see his mother crying.

"You didn’t kill him," Joe said softly, "It wasn’t your fault."

"Lies!" spat out Whiteside, kicking Joe hard on his already wounded shoulder. The pain was too much with his shoulder still hurting from the knife wound and his head still pounding. Joe slipped into unconsciousness as Andrew continued to rant. "She killed him as sure as if she’d shot him! He jumped because she rejected his love! She hurt him and because he died, she hurt me!"

Laura tried to protect Joe but Whiteside was bigger and much stronger. He pulled her to her feet and pushed her aside like a rag doll. He then reached down and pulled Joe to his feet.

"Now Laura," Andrew grinned wickedly, "I’ll finish what Adam started and you’ll know the kind of pain I’ve carried all these years!" He pulled Joe over his shoulder and walked toward the cliff edge.

"Whiteside!" came a shout from the road above, "Let the boy alone! Think about what you’re doing! That kid’s not done anything wrong here. Let him go!"

Andrew stared up at Ezra Collig and the two uniformed officers with him. He knew they’d never reach the precipice in time. "You’re too late Chief," Andrew called, "but at least you’re here. Joe’s daddy didn’t even make it here for the show."

Fenton Hardy was only three feet away from his wife. While Whiteside’s attention was focused on Collig, Fenton moved from behind the security of the boulder he was hidden behind and pulled his wife to safety.

Laura stared at Fenton and began protesting. Fenton gently put a hand over her mouth and pointed toward the mouth of the cave. Laura relaxed slightly as she saw her older son, Frank, just inside the cave. He was hidden in the shadow of the rock that partially concealed the entrance. She knew he would do whatever it would take to keep Joe from going over that edge.

Let the author know what you think of this story

Home Library Authors Rogue's Gallery Vehicles Chums Message Board Rap Sheet Links Contact

Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.